The Sankey chart is a visual representation of flow networks, with each node or resource representing a different type of flow, such as energy, materials, information or people. This chart is widely used in various fields such as economy, biology, engineering, and public sector. The approach of utilizing Sankey chart can help to analyze and model complex networks, which can be difficult to understand and analyze with the traditional graph-based method.
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The History of Sankey Chart:
Sankey chart was originally developed by mathematician Francis Edgeworth in 1905 as a way to visualize flows in transport networks. He combined elements of traditional flowcharts with network analysis, creating a unique way of representing flow data. The use of Sankey chart to model and analyze complex networks has been widely used by researchers, engineers, and policymakers. -
What is a Sankey Chart:
A Sankey chart is a diagrammatic representation of the flow of substances in a system. It consists of two or more nodes, each one representing a different material, and a directed line between each pair of nodes that represents the flow of the material in one direction. The direction of the flow can be represented by arrows, which indicate the direction of the flow. Each node has a corresponding quantity or value that can be used to represent the amount of substance that flows through it. -
Applications:
Sankey chart can be applied to various fields such as engineering, economics, environmental science, transportation, and natural resources. In engineering, it can be used to model the flow of fluids or gas in pipelines or networks, while in economics, it can be used to model economic flows such as trade or investment. In environmental science, it can be used to analyze the flow of pollutants, while in transportation, it can be used to analyze flow of transport systems or logistics. -
Types of Sankey Chart:
In the field of economics, there are two types of Sankey chart: the total flow Sankey chart and the directed flow Sankey chart. The total flow Sankey chart shows the total flow of a particular material through the entire network, while the directed flow Sankey chart shows the flow of a particular material only in one direction. -
How to create a Sankey Chart:
Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps:- Identify the nodes or resources that represent flow
- Collect the data or values for each node or resource
- Determine the direction of the flow
- Choose the appropriate symbols or arrowheads to represent the flow direction
- Arrange the nodes and flow lines in the desired layout
- Evaluate the accuracy of the chart by checking the consistency and accuracy of the data, and comparing it to other methods of analysis.
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Benefits of Using Sankey Chart:
Sankey chart has many benefits in the analysis of complex networks. Firstly, it provides a clear and concise representation of the flow of resources, which makes it easier to understand and analyze. Secondly, it avoids the complexity of traditional graph-based methods, which can be difficult to understand and analyze. -
Conclusion:
Sankey chart is a powerful tool in the analysis of complex networks. It allows researchers, engineers, and policymakers to visualize and understand the flow of resources, which can be difficult to analyze by traditional graph-based methods. It is a method that can help to model and analyze complex networks in various fields, such as economy, engineering, biology, and public sector.
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